From its very beginnings in 1888, the mission of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station has been to conduct research and achieve scientific discoveries to help farmers meet ever-evolving challenges. In 1919, a 423-acre tract of land was purchased in Fayetteville, Arkansas in response to a growing need for expanded agricultural research facilities. Over the last 100 years, through war and depression, social revolutions and technological innovations, that same land has continuously served the most urgent needs of agriculture in Arkansas.

Today, the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SAREC) is the main research complex for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Through multiple land acquisitions, SAREC has grown from that first 423 acres to 725 acres, centrally located just minutes away from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus.

Continuing a long tradition of scientific excellence, faculty and staff of SAREC today pursue research discoveries in every Experiment Station discipline and work closely with the Cooperative Extension Service to deliver the resulting science and expertise to the public. The Washington County Cooperative Extension Office is also located at SAREC.

Building on 100 years of discovery, the world-class faculty and staff of the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center work every day to advance food and agriculture and better the future for all Arkansans.

1919

First 423 Acres Purchased

In April of 1919, the Board of Trustees announced the purchase of 423 acres for the University Farm located 1-1/4 miles away from the main campus. Although the University had little money to adequately outfit and equip the new farm property, some improvements were made to the land including moving structures, building cottages for farmworkers, and laying tile in the fields to improve drainage. The farm property acreage was also divided among the various departments under the College of Agriculture.

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers are still conducting experiments on this same land today.

1921

FOUNDATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

1921~1922

Researchers began work at the farm with a series of fertilizer experiments. This research marked the beginning of three decades of crop rotation and fertilizer application experiments adjusted to soil type.

An excellent alfalfa crop growing on the Fayetteville Experiment Station farm.

Using a horse-drawn weeder, researchers cross rows of cotton to destroy weeds before they are deeply rooted

Pure bred Jerseys were among the breeds of dairy cattle that were researched at the early Experiment Station farm in Fayetteville

Early research at the Fayetteville farm included orchard cultivation. Here, a young orchard is cultivated with a disk and tractor

A view of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station farm in Fayetteville from the 1920s

1928

EXPANDING SPACE AND A LEADING DAIRY PROGRAM

1924~1928

The research and extension center increased to 572 acres by 1924, and the first unit-space dairy barn in America was built to house the Agricultural Experiment Station’s prize-winning dairy herd.

Development of ‘Arksoy’

“Arksoy,” the first Arkansas soybean variety, was developed by agronomy professor Chalmers K. McClelland and released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in 1928. Agronomist Charles E. Caviness and plant pathologists H.J. “Jack” Walters and Robert D. Riggs developed improved varieties with genetic resistance to Phytophthora root rot and soybean cyst nematode, which increased yields and more than doubled the state acreage suitable for soybeans. Soybean acreage exceeded that of cotton in 1956 to become Arkansas’ largest field crop.

Development of ‘Arksoy’

“Arksoy,” the first Arkansas soybean variety, was developed by agronomy professor Chalmers K. McClelland and released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in 1928. Agronomist Charles E. Caviness and plant pathologists H.J. “Jack” Walters and Robert D. Riggs developed improved varieties with genetic resistance to Phytophthora root rot and soybean cyst nematode, which increased yields and more than doubled the state acreage suitable for soybeans. Soybean acreage exceeded that of cotton in 1956 to become Arkansas’ largest field crop.

1945

EXPANDED SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING AGRICULTURE

The state legislature provided resources to buy another 185 acres due to the proliferation of different types of crop production in Arkansas.  The state wanted to avoid a return to the economic conditions of the 1930s through expanded support of food and agricultural research.

1945

EXPANDED SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING AGRICULTURE

The state legislature provided resources to buy another 185 acres due to the proliferation of different types of crop production in Arkansas.  The state wanted to avoid a return to the economic conditions of the 1930s through expanded support of food and agricultural research.

1951

Chicken of Tomorrow Contest

United States Vice President Alben Barkley marked the significance of the event by presenting the contest winner with a $5,000 prize in front of a crowd of 8,000 people in the University of Arkansas Razorback Stadium.

The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station hosted the “Chicken of Tomorrow” contest that brought breeders, scientists and entrepreneurs together to meet the public demand for economical, wholesome poultry products.

The partnership between these constituencies led to the nationally recognized Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the university.

1951

Chicken of Tomorrow Contest

The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station hosted the “Chicken of Tomorrow” contest that brought breeders, scientists and entrepreneurs together to meet the public demand for economical, wholesome poultry products.

The partnership between these constituencies led to the nationally recognized Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the university.

1957

Barton Pavilion at Agri Park

Agri Park is a beautiful 8-acre plot of land with a lighted pavilion, which is available to the public for rental. The pavilion includes a small kitchen, two restrooms, and a fireplace for guests to enjoy. This space is great for a variety of events, including birthday parties, picnics, retreats, family reunions, 5k races, and more.

1958

Food Science Building

Housing the highest-ranked higher education research program in the region, the building traces its origins to the construction of the Physiology and Processing Laboratory in 1958 to provide research support for the region’s vegetable canning industry.

That 3,000-sq-ft lab space would soon be known as the A Wing, when a B Wing was constructed in 1963. By 1968, the newly created Department of Horticultural Food Science was established, leading to construction of a C Wing to help house teaching responsibilities. Expansions in 1980 and 1985 increased the total size of the facility to 32,000 sq ft, befitting the newly renamed Department of Food Science.

Construction of a D wing in 2003 and E Wing in 2010 helped top the building out at 47,000 sq ft, consisting of 15 research laboratories, 15 instrumentation rooms, 18 faculty offices, 3 conference rooms, a computer lab, two classrooms, a teaching laboratory, two pilot plants (wet and dry), and a food innovation laboratory.

1959

The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees created the Division of Agriculture to oversee administration of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

1961

BEEFING UP

The long-term cattle breeding program at the farm was expanded, and the Experiment Station hosted regional beef cattle breeding studies.

1967

Cralley-Warren Laboratory

Constructed in 1967 and named the Virology and Biological Control Laboratory, it was renamed in August 1997 as the Cralley-Warren Laboratory in honor of two former directors of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. E. M. Cralley (1959-1973) and Dr. Lloyd O. Warren (1973-1983). The laboratory supported Experiment Station field research in entomology and plant pathology and housed the first electron microscope in Fayetteville, which was used by both AES and UAF scientists. The building has 11,200 sq ft with thirteen laboratories and currently houses the Arkansas Plant Health Clinic.

1967

Cralley-Warren Laboratory

Constructed in 1967 and named the Virology and Biological Control Laboratory, it was renamed in August 1997 as the Cralley-Warren Laboratory in honor of two former directors of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. E. M. Cralley (1959-1973) and Dr. Lloyd O. Warren (1973-1983). The laboratory supported Experiment Station field research in entomology and plant pathology and housed the first electron microscope in Fayetteville, which was used by both AES and UAF scientists. The building has 11,200 sq ft with thirteen laboratories and currently houses the Arkansas Plant Health Clinic.

1992

GIFT EXPANDS ACREAGE

The final land acquisition at the research and extension center was a 24-acre gift by the late J.E. “Ep” and Maurice McClelland, in honor of his father, C.K. McClelland, the Experiment Station agronomist who developed “Arksoy,” the first soybean specifically adapted to Arkansas.

 

 

John K. Skeeles Poultry Health Laboratory

The 12,000-sq-ft Poultry Health Laboratory is capable of the highest bio-safety rating (P3) possible for  a university laboratory dedicated to poultry research. The Laboratory was completed in 1992 with state and federal funding. Current research in the laboratory includes work on probiotics and prebiotics to improve the health and performance of poultry and advance poultry food safety practices. The laboratory is named for the late Dr. John “Kirk” Skeeles who was a noted Experiment Station researcher in poultry health and veterinary science from 1978 to 1999.

1992

GIFT EXPANDS ACREAGE

The final land acquisition at the research and extension center was a 24-acre gift by the late J.E. “Ep” and Maurice McClelland, in honor of his father, C.K. McClelland, the Experiment Station agronomist who developed “Arksoy,” the first soybean specifically adapted to Arkansas.

John K. Skeeles Poultry Health Laboratory

The 12,000-sq-ft Poultry Health Laboratory is capable of the highest bio-safety rating (P3) possible for  a university laboratory dedicated to poultry research. The Laboratory was completed in 1992 with state and federal funding. Current research in the laboratory includes work on probiotics and prebiotics to improve the health and performance of poultry and advance poultry food safety practices. The laboratory is named for the late Dr. John “Kirk” Skeeles who was a noted Experiment Station researcher in poultry health and veterinary science from 1978 to 1999.

1998

Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center

The Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, located directly on Highway 112, has been a signature facility at the research and extension center since its opening in 1998. The building was funded by a combination of state and federal funds with a critical capping gift from Pauline Whitaker. It includes a 100-ft x 250-ft riding arena with permanent seating for 750. The Pauline Whitaker Center also has three 50-seat classrooms, a 2,500-sq-ft foyer and reception area, a conference room, and a 10,000-sq-ft show barn located immediately adjacent to the Pauline Whitaker Center with twenty-five pens, scales, a squeeze chute, and washing and drying areas.

1998

Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center

The Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, located directly on Highway 112, has been a signature facility at the research and extension center since its opening in 1998. The building was funded by a combination of state and federal funds with a critical capping gift from Pauline Whitaker. It includes a 100-ft x 250-ft riding arena with permanent seating for 750. The Pauline Whitaker Center also has three 50-seat classrooms, a 2,500-sq-ft foyer and reception area, a conference room, and a 10,000-sq-ft show barn located immediately adjacent to the Pauline Whitaker Center with twenty-five pens, scales, a squeeze chute, and washing and drying areas.

1999

Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion

The Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion, opened in 1999, is located next to the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center and was made possible by a gift from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation. The equine pavilion has a teaching area for students, ten stalls for horses, and a 150-ft x 250-ft lighted outdoor arena.

2008

Leland E. Tollett Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

The 7,365-sq-ft laboratory, opened in 2008, was made possible through a matching gift from the Tyson Foods Foundation. The Laboratory provides reliable, consistent, and timely animal disease diagnostic services, health monitoring programs, and authorized USDA testing programs.

The laboratory’s clientele includes the poultry industry, private veterinary practitioners, farmers, individual animal owners and university faculty.

2017

Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences

In 2017, thanks to the generous support of the Tyson family, the Agricultural Experiment Station administration moved into its new headquarters at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences (DTAS).

The original headquarters of the Experiment Station was located on the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus. Built in 1888, it was eventually razed in 1970. For the next 47 years, the Experiment Station was co-located on the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus with Bumpers College. 

DTAS is a 52,000-sq-ft, two-story facility with two wings. The south wing houses the administrative operations for the Experiment Station. The larger north wing has space for 20 state-of-the-art laboratories, with accompanying offices and graduate student areas. The building has first-rate meeting facilities to accommodate conferences, seminars, workshops, board meetings, and banquets related to the research and extension mission of the Division of Agriculture. Foremost is Waldrip Hall, gifted by Mark and Angela Waldrip, which can seat up to 500 people.

2017

Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences

In 2017, thanks to the generous support of the Tyson family, the Agricultural Experiment Station administration moved into its new headquarters at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences (DTAS).

The original headquarters of the Experiment Station was located on the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus. Built in 1888, it was eventually razed in 1970. For the next 47 years, the Experiment Station was co-located on the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus with Bumpers College. 

DTAS is a 52,000-sq-ft, two-story facility with two wings. The south wing houses the administrative operations for the Experiment Station. The larger north wing has space for 20 state-of-the-art laboratories, with accompanying offices and graduate student areas. The building has first-rate meeting facilities to accommodate conferences, seminars, workshops, board meetings, and banquets related to the research and extension mission of the Division of Agriculture. Foremost is Waldrip Hall, gifted by Mark and Angela Waldrip, which can seat up to 500 people.

2018

Research Expenditures

Grant Awards

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Worldwide Patents Issued